ALBANY, N.Y. -- New York State Democratic Assemblyman Darrel Aubertine beat his Republican rival in state senate elections seen to tilt the partisan balance.

Assemblyman Will Barclay, R-Pulaski, conceded to Aubertine, D-Cape Vincent, following vote counts giving the Democrat a 52 percent to 47 percent victory in the race in the New York state's 48th Senate District, the Times Union newspaper in Albany, N.Y., said Wednesday.

Democrats hailed the victory as a shake-up in the state legislature as the win narrows the Republican majority to one seat in the state senate.

All of the state senators in New York are up for re-election this fall and Democratic Party leaders said they see Aubertine's win as a sign of the general trend in the state.

"We think there is a lot of evidence that this is going to carry over down the ballot and help us win some congressional races, finally flip the Senate," Democratic Chairwoman June O'Neill told the Times Union.

The newspaper said political analysts and party leaders think the trend will result in a change in leadership at several state committees and even in the Democratic Party leadership.